The Official Presidential debate thread

[strandinthewind]

Networks balk at Bush-Kerry debate agreement
Several indicate they will not be bound by limits on cameras



(CNN) -- Although the Bush and Kerry camps have meticulously crafted an agreement on the rules for this year's presidential debates, the television networks broadcasting them refuse to go along with the plans.

Specifically, the networks object to provisions in the agreement that place limits on their cameras, including prohibitions on shots of one candidate while the other is answering questions.

"Because of journalistic standards, we're not going to follow outside restrictions," said Paul Schur, a spokesman for Fox News, which is manning the pool camera for the first debate Thursday in Miami, Florida.

"This is a news pool, and we are not subject to agreements between candidates," NBC News spokeswoman Barbara Levin said. "We will use pictures as we see fit."

CNN spokesman Matthew Furman said the network "reserves the right to make our own decisions about coverage during the debate, just as we always have."

ABC News and CBS News are also objecting to the limits, with a CBS spokeswoman insisting that "we will utilize any shots the pool makes available."

Also, at least two of the television journalists chosen to moderate the debates -- ABC's Charles Gibson and CBS's Bob Schieffer -- have not signed the agreement on ground rules hammered out between the two campaigns, according to their networks.

The other two moderators are Gwen Ifill and Jim Lehrer, both of PBS, which has not yet commented.

Under terms of the agreement reached last week between the Bush and Kerry campaigns after lengthy negotiations, moderators who refuse to sign the document can be replaced.

The 32-page agreement sets out the rules for the debates with great specificity, down to details such as the temperature of the hall, what kind of paper can be used to take notes and who can stand in the wings.

Monday, the Commission on Presidential Debates, the independent group that plays host to the debates, said it would agree to enforce the rules reached in the agreement between the Bush and Kerry campaigns and that there "will be no departure from the terms" unless there is "prior consultation with, and approval by, the appropriate campaign representatives."

However, the commission did not formally sign the agreement, and its co-chairman, Frank Fahrenkopf, told The New York Times that the restrictions on what the networks can show are unenforceable.

"We don't control the feed, so we don't know what the networks are going to show," said Fahrenkopf, a former chairman of the Republican National Committee. "That's not within our purview."

The New York Times also reported that the commission may balk at a provision in the agreement setting out the make-up of the audience for the town hall debate between Bush and Kerry on October 8 in St. Louis, Missouri.

The campaigns agreed that the audience would be divided between people leaning toward Bush and those leaning toward Kerry. The debate commission wants the hall full of undecided voters in neither camp.

Under terms of their agreement, either the Bush or Kerry campaigns could opt out of the debates, or seek another sponsor, if the commission does not sign on to their terms. There is no indication either camp is contemplating such a move.

The document does not address what might happen if the television networks refuse to abide by the rules.

Responding to the media's recalcitrance, Kerry campaign spokeswoman Christine Anderson said "every time you have something like this, there are going to be small details to be worked out. They are being worked out."

The Bush campaign declined to comment directly on the networks' objections. However, spokesman Scott Stanzel described the president's camp as "looking forward to all of the debates."

"We are pleased the commission said they would follow the terms of the agreement of the campaigns," he said.

The debate commission has not commented on the media's objections to the rules.


Find this article at:
http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/...ion/index.html

[dissention]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

Also, at least two of the television journalists chosen to moderate the debates -- ABC's Charles Gibson and CBS's Bob Schieffer -- have not signed the agreement on ground rules hammered out between the two campaigns, according to their networks.

I would have preferred Diane Sawyer. Or even Cynthia McFadden (I've had a crush on her for years ).

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by dissention

I would have preferred Diane Sawyer. Or even Cynthia McFadden (I've had a crush on her for years ).

I really like Cynthia - she has a very nice way about her, her cadence, manner, effect, etc.

As for Diane - she is okay, but can you say the Michael Jackson interview

[dissention]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

I really like Cynthia - she has a very nice way about her, her cadence, manner, effect, etc.

As for Diane - she is okay, but can you say the Michael Jackson interview

I just can't stand Gibson. He makes me nervous with all that shaking he does.

[strandinthewind]

Campaigns spin debate advantage
Will viewers see 'the heart and soul of the candidates'?



(CNN) -- As the much-anticipated first debate between the presidential candidates nears, the spin machines for both campaigns are working overtime, claiming that their man has an advantage going into the face-off.

"We feel like we're in a good position in this debate ... because the president knows what he thinks, why he thinks the way that he does, what he wants to do in the future, where he wants to lead the nation, and that stands in stark contrast to his opponent," said Mary Matalin, an adviser to President Bush's campaign.

Staffers in Sen. John Kerry's campaign said the Democrat's position -- currently behind in the polls -- is actually a good way to enter such a forum.

"I think it is always good to go into one of these high-profile debates as an underdog," said Kerry spokesman Mike McCurry.

"At the end, the important thing is you strip away all the negativity from the debate ... and you really get to look into the heart and soul of the candidates and say who really is going to get us to where we need to be as a nation and where are we going to be in the world at the end of the next four years after this president serves."

In recent days, both sides have also been careful to praise their opponents as skilled in the art of debating. (Special Report: America Votes 2004)

Joe Lockhart, a senior adviser to Kerry, said Bush has won every debate in which he has participated.

"Debates, in the modern political system, are not won by the person who knows the most information; they're won by the person who is most persuasive for their position," Lockhart said. "And George Bush has proven time and time again that he is a very persuasive debater. It does, of course, seem at times like he doesn't have all the facts straight, but he seems to do it in a way that gives you a sense of commitment and a sense of what direction he wants to go." (Stakes high heading into debates)

Dan Bartlett, White House communications director, emphasized Monday that Kerry is a skilled debater, pointing to the seven "epic debates" he had in 1996 with then-Gov. Bill Weld in the U.S. Senate race in Massachusetts.

The Democrat was an all-star debater in college and has honed his skills during 20 years in the Senate, Bartlett said.

The debates are considered a crucial point in what has been a lengthy campaign. A CNN/USA Today/Gallup Poll released Monday showed that 18 percent of registered voters said the three debates would make a difference when they decided for whom they would cast their ballot in November. (Poll suggests Bush lead)

Kerry traveled Wednesday to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, from Spring Green, Wisconsin, where he had been preparing for the debate. (Authorities warn of possible debate threats)

"He is focused; he is totally focused on this preparation and on this debate," said senior adviser Susan Rice on CNN. "It is an opportunity for the American people to see that he is a strong, smart, tough leader."

President Bush, who had been getting ready for the debate at his ranch in Crawford, Texas, flew to Florida on Wednesday and toured a hurricane-damaged citrus grove there. He plans to tour more storm damage Thursday.

The two men will come face-to-face under highly orchestrated rules at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida, on Thursday for the first debate, which begins at 9 p.m. ET.

A 32-page agreement reached last week between the two campaigns sets out the rules for the debates with great specificity, down to details such as the temperature of the hall, what kind of paper can be used to take notes and who can be standing in the wings backstage. (Networks balk at debate agreement)

No matter the rules, Matalin said, and no matter how great a debater Kerry is, the senator "will be disadvantaged in the debate."

"The problem for Senator Kerry is that he, his record and his campaign has been inconsistent ... and the challenge for Senator Kerry at this debate is to bring some clarity to his massive vacillation throughout this campaign, particularly on the issues most important to Americans, that is national security," she said. "He has been all over the board, I think he has 10 distinct positions on Iraq."

McCurry said the debate is an opportunity for the president to finally respond to some tough questions about the situation in Iraq.

"President Bush knows what he needs to do tomorrow night, but you know he probably won't do it, and what he really needs to do is answer questions that the American people have about where he would lead us in Iraq (and) how we deal with the consequences of his very wrong choices," he said on CNN's "American Morning."

A second debate will be October 8 at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, and a third is scheduled for October 13 at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona.

A vice presidential debate will be October 5 at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.

Find this article at:
http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/...ain/index.html

[ShangriLaTroubl]

I will be leaving class 15 mins early tonight just so I can make it home in time for the debate..This is the most exciting part of a presidential campaign IMO...Sure I know I know, it's not a "REAL DEBATE." Afterall they aren't supposed to address eachother at all...but it is always interesting, no matter the rules, to see these two mean--who have BASICALLY been talking behind eachothers' backs for months and months now--IN THE SAME ROOM, WITHIN FEET APART! It's a little harder to say something about someone if they are standing right next to you..
George Bush is a good debater...He knows how to win the people over, even without having much facts...someone said in Rolling Stone recently, people like Bush "because he's someone you would want to invite over for a BBQ, but shouldnt you hold the office of President to higher standards than someone who you would enjoy having a BBQ with?"
People like Bush often because he seems "normal" to them..."just like one of us." Kerry has a chance to prove himself, defend his record when questioned (because the problem with him is ,while he has a strong record---it has just been distorted, and it takes him 10 mins to defend it)--they dont have that long to talk on each mini-subject. I expect George to be basically the same as he was in 2000, smirking, giggling, being kind of condescending...but Kerry is no Al Gore, he is a much better debator..unfortunately I think in order for Kerry to be called the "winner" of this debate, he will have to dumb down what he says a lot...Lets face it, the average American voter could care less about all the figures, and the lengthy speeches...he needs to tell Bush how it is (even though he cant talk to Bush, he can say "My opponent needs to realize..." etc)...he needs to look strong..it will be fun to watch..cant wait!

[Nixxxed]

Has any of the networks announced that they are going against the "TV rules" for broadcasting the debates? I know Fox is running the pool cameras, but several networks have said they didn't like the setup of the rules and were planning to use the feed any way they saw fit...

Just trying to find out ahead of time so I don't miss something flipping around!

[gldstwmn]

Originally Posted by Nixxxed

Has any of the networks announced that they are going against the "TV rules" for broadcasting the debates? I know Fox is running the pool cameras, but several networks have said they didn't like the setup of the rules and were planning to use the feed any way they saw fit...

Just trying to find out ahead of time so I don't miss something flipping around!

Rumor has it that they are going to show the reaction shots. We'll see. I'll be flipping around.

[GateandGarden]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

As for Diane - she is okay, but can you say the Michael Jackson interview

And how about that Dixie Chicks interview?

Hillary